Interviewer

Violeta Domínguez

Project

Bracero Oral History

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Carlos Rosario was born on September 11, 1928, in Mazatepec, Morelos, México; he was the youngest of three brothers; his father was a sacristan at their local church; he worked sowing rice and driving herds from an early age; in 1955, he joined the Bracero Program; he worked in California and Texas picking cotton, grapefruits, green beans, lemons, oranges, and strawberries.

Summary of Interview

Mr. Rosario recalls growing up Mazatepec, Morelos, México in a catholic household; he remembers sowing rice and driving herds from an early age; in 1955; he joined the Bracero Program; he describes how the hiring process was conducted, how he had to pay bribes to be placed on the selection list, and the long train trip he took to the contracting center at Empalme, Sonora, México; additionally, he states that he worked in California and Texas picking cotton, grapefruits, green beans, lemons, oranges, and strawberries; furthermore, he details daily activities on the farms, the housing braceros had, the food they prepared, the curfews they were given, and the treatment they received from foremen; he explains the different kinds of contracts they had, what they had to do when their contract expired, and how the rehiring process was done; moreover, he states what braceros did during weekends, and how they celebrated Mexican holidays; he also recounts what visits from representatives of the Mexican consulate were like; to conclude, he presents what he did after the program was terminated, how his life changed after being a bracero, and his positive memories of that time.

Date of Interview

7-25-2002

Length of Interview

67 minutes

Tape Number

No. 1041

Transcript Number

No. 1041

Length of Transcript

47 pages

Interview Number

No. 1041

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

Comments

Interview in Spanish.

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